The Osceola times., 1887-08-27

issue annually about IS, 900 editions of
songs. of between 16, 000 600 and 90
10000 of copies. This, added TO the
reprints of English and foreign songs,
means fully thirty copies daily per cap
ita to every teacher of music in the
there is not one song in 500 that
reaches popular sale Of 5000 copies.
and less than one-tenth as many that
exceed an issue of 100000 copies. Here
are the sales of a few well-known
songs:
| Copies sold
" Flower From Mothers Grave" .........3 800 0o0
| Sweet Niolets'
| " Only Pansy Blossom. m'.....,.......-....2 .2O0,0O
:" When the Leaves Begin TO Turn. n".......l50,0C0
| only 10 See Her Face lDUU
Notwithstanding this apparent lack
of appreciation on the part of a surfeit-
ed public, the issue of sheet music con-
tinues profitable enterprise, rendered
so by the spasmodic sale of an occas-
ional hit, the pecuniary return of which
usually overbalances losses entailed in
other directions.
Since the days of Stephen G. Foster,
! Henry c. Work and John Howard
Payne, class of balladists has sprung
into existence, the exact description OF
which it would be difficult to give. The
array embraces almost every vocation
from minstrel to mechanic. Among
the more notable are Frank Howard.
well-known as author of "Only Pansy
Blossom" and "When the Robins
Nest Again." David Braham. James G.
Stewart, VIM. j. Scanlan. the actor
Charles Connolly, Sydney Rosenfeld,
j. X. Emmett and Walter Phoenix.
Rosenfeld was formerly Il Philadelphia
journalist, while VIM. Henderson, the
writer Of so many topical songs, was
formerly connected with the ed torial
staff of the New York Times. These
comprise only very few of the thous-
and who have essayed popular song
making.
The song which stands alone in the
American market in point of issues
sold is the Scotch Lassie JEAN" which
reached 100000 copies, and is still in
fair demand. Another great success
was the ballad Must We Then Meet as
Strangers?" of which many editions
have been printed. Still Others are
fuckers pretty song. "Sweet Gene
We've" The Spanish Cavalier, "Call
Me Back Again" Sweet Forget Me
Not" and Pretty as Picture" Then
there must not be omitted Westendorf' )
I'll Take Thee Back Again. Kath-
leen." To name the very latest pop
ular song successes is a matter of more
difficulty The ballad that is whistled
to-day by thousands may be dead and
forgotten by tomorrow, while another,
not quite so quick to catch the popular
taste, may sell on and on, just as
familiar but old stories like "Uncle
Tom Cabin do. The latter is to-day
among the best selling books in the
world. Some songs approach, but they
do not quite equal its lasting popular
ity. Following are the approximate
sales of some later successes:
Copies sold
"wait Till the Clouds Roll By 200 ooo
| Peek aboo .....,.. .'.'''.'.... .lfooou
when the Robins Nest Again. ............i+0,OoC
| "1'll Await my Love
| "Over the Garden Wall" .... ...........-.... 5000
| "Cimbing up the Golden Stair ............ 500
Hurry, Little children, Sunday Morn. 5000
Don't Leave Your Mother, Tom" ."....... 5000
1t is interesting to note how songs
are made popular. Undoubtedly the
stage is the great factor. A catchy
ballad brought out by n prominent
singer invariably produces desire to
initiate. The minstrel is, therefore,
the introducer of the song. OF all the
singers who have popularized musical
compositions in this country Lotta
stands at the head Take the num-
Der of songs written expressly for her
and see their subsequent sale in sheet
form:
Copies Sold.
| "Dem Golden Slippers" rs"................ 10000
In the Morning by the Bright Light" :. sco,cUo
"Razors in the Air 900
| Come Along sinners, .lyoOo1
Swim for the Golden Shore" ............. Go,o0
How some songs came to be written
is an interesting study. For several
months there was a warm controversy
on the authorship of Don't Leave
Your Mother, Tom" 1t was claimed
by Miss Maud Beverly, but it turned
out, rs its English flavor indicated,
that it was an English song altered,
its old form being "Stick to Your
Mother, Jack" Yorkshire ballad Of
threadbare popularity as well as age.
The author of climbing Up the Gold
en- Stair" was poor fellow who board
ed in an attic, and got his inspiration
by climbing the rickety stairs that led
to it.-Philddephia Cor. San francisco
Chronicle.
This is the season of year when we
are thrown into the society OF the man
who rocks the boat for fun if he goes
out with you for row in the lake or
river. He never gets to be over thirty
wears of age, and generally partici-
pates in double funeral. Beware OF
him. Albany Journal.
An old well near Ravenna, o.. is
attracting attention by blowing hard
enough 70 sound big whistle or suck